Forestry Commission Scotland has put out a plea to birders across the country to help assess woodland bird species in 2011. The call for volunteers comes after a three year effort to get better information on woodland birds recorded in the UK wide Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) organised annually by the British Trust for Ornithology. Gordon Patterson, the Commission’s Biodiversity Policy Advisor, said: “The Commission, together with SNH, provided funding for a professional survey of additional woodland sample areas in Scotland so that we could assess changes in woodland bird populations more thoroughly. “That has been a success: we’ve helped…

The continued cold weather has prompted Scottish Natural Heritage to remind people using the countryside to give wildlife space to feed and survive. Last winter a wide range of species suffered, including common birds such as wrens, dunnock, treecreeper, robin and greenfinch. Barn owls also suffered. If weather continues cold then we will see a similar picture. The frozen conditions means wild birds, particularly those species which rely on wet habitats such as ducks, geese and shore waders, will likely be struggling to find sufficient food to survive. There have been reports of unusual wildfowl behaviour, such as mass movements…

An innovative project in Renfrewshire is combating declining hen harrier numbers. Over the last three years, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has been working with land managers in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park to support management of their moorland for wildlife. In all ten land managers have signed up to a management scheme, covering 8,380 hectares of moorland. Known as Renfrewshire Heights, the moorland is internationally important for breeding hen harriers and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area. Over a number of years muirburn and high levels of grazing have caused a…